Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus CO2-Resistant Orbital Shaker

Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus CO2-Resistant Orbital Shaker

The Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus CO2-Resistant Orbital Shaker is a compact laboratory shaker engineered for reliable orbital agitation inside CO2 incubators and other demanding high-humidity environments. Designed for mammalian suspension cell culture, cell expansion, shake-flask culture, microcarrier research, bacterial suspensions, hybridization, washing, extraction, and other laboratory applications, the MaxQ 2000 Plus allows researchers to add orbital shaking capability to an existing controlled environment without purchasing a dedicated CO2 incubator shaker.

Unlike a conventional benchtop orbital shaker, the MaxQ 2000 Plus incorporates specially treated mechanical components designed to withstand environments containing up to 20% CO2 and 95% relative humidity. Its compact shaker body can be placed inside a compatible CO2 incubator while the external control box remains outside the chamber, allowing researchers to adjust speed and operating time without repeatedly opening the incubator door.

The shaker operates from 30 to 300 rpm with a 19 mm orbit and supports loads up to 13 lb / 6 kg. A magnetic drive system eliminates traditional belt replacements, while low heat dissipation helps minimize the shaker's effect on the surrounding incubator environment.

For cell culture laboratories that already own CO2 incubators but need controlled orbital agitation, the MaxQ 2000 Plus can provide a space-efficient and economical alternative to purchasing a dedicated floor-standing CO2 incubator shaker.

This Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus is available used and refurbished from American Instrument Exchange. AIE technicians inspect, clean, and test the shaker prior to shipment, and the unit includes a 90-day warranty from American Instrument Exchange.

Key Features

• Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus CO2-resistant orbital shaker

• Catalog number 88881101

• Designed for operation inside compatible CO2 incubators

• 30–300 rpm speed range

• ±1 rpm speed-control accuracy

• 19 mm / 0.75-inch orbit

• Maximum load capacity of 13 lb / 6 kg

• Designed for environments up to 20% CO2 and 95% relative humidity

• Operating temperature range of 4°C to 60°C

• Magnetic orbital drive eliminates traditional drive belts

• External control box with LED speed and time display

• Timer from 0 to 99 hours 59 minutes or continuous operation

• Low heat dissipation for use in controlled chambers

• Stainless-steel construction

• Compact design for installation in compatible incubators

• 100–240V, 50/60 Hz electrical compatibility

• Used and refurbished by American Instrument Exchange

• 90-day AIE warranty

Overview

Orbital shaking inside a CO2 incubator presents challenges that do not exist with ordinary open-air shakers.

Elevated humidity can accelerate corrosion and affect conventional mechanical and electronic components. Elevated CO2 can also create a demanding environment for materials that were not designed for long-term exposure.

A shaker motor can introduce additional heat into the chamber, while opening the incubator every time the shaking speed needs to be adjusted can disturb temperature, CO2 concentration, and humidity.

The Thermo MaxQ 2000 Plus was developed specifically to address these problems.

The compact shaker mechanism sits inside the incubator, while its control box remains outside. Critical mechanical components are treated for resistance to high-CO2, high-humidity conditions, and the magnetic drive reduces mechanical complexity.

The result is an orbital shaker particularly well suited to laboratories that want to add suspension culture capability to an existing CO2 incubator.

Key Specifications

Specification	Details
Manufacturer	Thermo Scientific
Model	MaxQ 2000 Plus
Catalog Number	88881101
Equipment Type	CO2-Resistant Orbital Shaker
Speed Range	30–300 rpm
Speed Control Accuracy	±1 rpm
Orbit	19 mm / 0.75 in.
Maximum Load	13 lb. / 6 kg
Timer	0–99 hr 59 min or continuous
Display	LED speed and time
Drive	Magnetic orbital drive
Operating Temperature	4°C to 60°C
Relative Humidity	20% to 95%
CO2 Environment	0% to 20%
Shaker Dimensions	Approx. 14.2"W × 11.8"D × 3.8"H
Metric Dimensions	Approx. 360 × 300 × 96 mm
Control Box Dimensions	Approx. 6.2 × 3.7 × 1.0 in.
Electrical	100–240V, 50/60 Hz
Construction	Stainless steel / CO2-resistant components
Condition	Used / Refurbished
AIE Warranty	90 Days

Common Applications

The MaxQ 2000 Plus is particularly useful for mammalian suspension cell culture, shake-flask cell expansion, cell line development, microcarrier research, protein-expression workflows, bacterial suspensions, staining and destaining, washing procedures, hybridization, solubility studies, extraction procedures, and other laboratory applications requiring orbital agitation in a controlled environment.

Its ability to operate inside a compatible CO2 incubator makes it especially relevant to biotechnology and cell culture laboratories that need shaking under elevated CO2 conditions but do not require the capacity of a large dedicated incubator shaker.

Ideal Laboratory Types

The Thermo MaxQ 2000 Plus is well suited for biotechnology companies, biopharmaceutical research laboratories, cell biology groups, cell and gene therapy research laboratories, protein-expression facilities, academic cell culture laboratories, university core facilities, pharmaceutical research groups, and other laboratories working with suspension cultures or temperature-sensitive biological samples.

It can be particularly valuable for startup and early-stage biotechnology companies because it allows an existing CO2 incubator to support additional shaking applications without immediately investing in a larger dedicated CO2 incubator shaker.

Designed for CO2 Incubator Environments

The most important distinction between the MaxQ 2000 Plus and a standard orbital shaker is environmental resistance.

Thermo specifies operation in environments containing up to 20% CO2 and relative humidity as high as 95%.

These conditions are substantially more demanding than ordinary laboratory air.

Mechanical components receive specialized treatment to help protect them from the corrosive effects associated with prolonged exposure to CO2-rich, humid environments.

This makes the MaxQ 2000 Plus a much more appropriate choice for installation inside a CO2 incubator than a standard open-air laboratory shaker that was never designed for those conditions.

Add Shaking Capability to an Existing CO2 Incubator

Many cell culture laboratories already have one or more conventional CO2 incubators.

When a new workflow requires suspension culture, researchers may initially assume that they need to purchase an entirely new CO2 incubator shaker.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus offers another option.

When space, environmental conditions, electrical access, and platform capacity are appropriate, the shaker can be installed inside an existing CO2 incubator. The incubator continues to regulate temperature, CO2, and humidity while the MaxQ provides orbital agitation.

This arrangement can be particularly attractive for laboratories with moderate suspension-culture requirements or facilities that want to establish a new workflow before investing in larger dedicated equipment.

Mammalian Suspension Cell Culture

Suspension-adapted mammalian cells require both appropriate environmental conditions and continuous mixing.

A standard CO2 incubator provides controlled temperature, CO2, and humidity but does not provide orbital agitation.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus adds that missing function.

With the shaker installed inside an appropriate CO2 incubator, suspension cultures can remain under controlled atmospheric conditions while receiving continuous orbital motion.

Potential applications include mammalian cell expansion, protein-expression research, cell-line development, media optimization, process-development studies, and other small- to medium-scale shake-flask workflows.

Cell & Gene Therapy Research

Cell and gene therapy research can involve suspension-adapted mammalian cell lines during process development, viral vector research, transfection studies, and upstream culture optimization.

A CO2-resistant orbital shaker can provide a flexible development platform for laboratories working at shake-flask scale.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus is not itself a complete cell or gene therapy production system, and process suitability depends on cell line, vessel, medium, biosafety requirements, and validated procedures. Its role is to provide controlled orbital agitation within an appropriate incubator environment.

Protein Expression

Mammalian and microbial expression systems often require orbital shaking during cell expansion and protein production.

When a mammalian expression system requires elevated CO2, the MaxQ 2000 Plus can provide agitation while the surrounding incubator maintains the required atmosphere.

The same shaker can also be operated outside a CO2 incubator for appropriate microbial or general laboratory applications, giving laboratories greater flexibility than a device permanently integrated into a dedicated incubator.

30–300 rpm Shaking Range

The MaxQ 2000 Plus operates from 30 to 300 rpm with speed-control accuracy specified at ±1 rpm.

This range provides flexibility for different culture vessels, fill volumes, cell types, and mixing requirements.

Lower speeds can provide gentler orbital motion for sensitive cultures or general mixing, while higher speeds can increase agitation and gas transfer where appropriate.

The optimal speed should be established according to the specific vessel and biological process rather than simply operating at the instrument's maximum rpm.

19 mm Orbital Motion

The shaker uses a 19 mm / 0.75-inch orbit.

Orbit diameter influences liquid movement, mixing, gas transfer, and shear within a culture vessel.

The 19 mm orbit is commonly used in laboratory-scale orbital shaking and provides effective mixing for a broad range of appropriate flasks and other culture vessels.

When transferring a protocol from another shaker, researchers should compare both rpm and orbit diameter because the same rpm on shakers with different orbital diameters can produce different mixing conditions.

13 lb Load Capacity

The MaxQ 2000 Plus supports loads up to approximately 13 lb / 6 kg.

This is appropriate for small- and medium-scale laboratory shaking applications while helping maintain the compact dimensions required for installation inside standard-sized incubators.

Actual vessel capacity depends on the platform or attachment configuration, vessel geometry, flask size, liquid volume, and required clearance inside the incubator.

Loads should be distributed evenly across the shaker to promote smooth operation and minimize unnecessary vibration.

Magnetic Drive Technology

One of the MaxQ 2000 Plus's distinctive mechanical features is its magnetic orbital drive.

The magnetic system eliminates the traditional drive belts used in many orbital shaker designs.

Removing belts eliminates a common wear component and reduces the need for belt replacement during routine maintenance.

This is particularly advantageous when the shaker operates inside an incubator, where minimizing maintenance and mechanical intervention can simplify laboratory operations.

Low Heat Dissipation

Any powered device placed inside a CO2 incubator can introduce heat into the chamber.

Excessive heat generation can force the incubator's temperature-control system to compensate and may affect environmental stability.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus was designed for minimal heat dissipation to help reduce its effect on the surrounding chamber.

This is an important distinction between a shaker purpose-built for incubator use and a conventional laboratory shaker that happens to physically fit inside an incubator.

External Control Box

The MaxQ 2000 Plus uses an external control box that remains outside the incubator chamber.

The controller provides an LED display for shaking speed and operating time.

Because the controls remain outside the incubator, researchers can adjust shaker settings without opening the chamber door.

This can help reduce unnecessary disturbances to temperature, CO2 concentration, and humidity during extended culture experiments.

Maintaining Stable Incubator Conditions

Opening a CO2 incubator door allows conditioned chamber air to escape and room air to enter.

The incubator must then recover its temperature and CO2 setpoints.

Repeated door openings can therefore introduce unnecessary environmental fluctuations during sensitive cell culture experiments.

By positioning the shaker controls outside the chamber, the MaxQ 2000 Plus allows speed and timer adjustments without requiring access to the incubator interior.

The actual environmental stability of the culture still depends on the performance of the CO2 incubator itself.

High-Humidity Resistance

CO2 incubators commonly maintain highly humidified environments to reduce evaporation from cell culture vessels.

Humidity is beneficial to the cultures but challenging for mechanical and electrical equipment.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus is specified for operation at up to 95% relative humidity, making it suitable for the conditions encountered inside many cell culture incubators.

This does not eliminate the need for routine inspection, cleaning, and maintenance, particularly after spills or prolonged use.

Timer & Continuous Operation

The digital timer can be programmed from zero to 99 hours and 59 minutes.

For longer experiments, the shaker can operate continuously.

This provides flexibility for short mixing procedures as well as multi-day cell culture experiments.

The LED display allows users to monitor speed and time from the external controller.

Compact Footprint

The shaker mechanism measures approximately 14.2 inches wide × 11.8 inches deep × 3.8 inches high.

Its low-profile design is one of its major advantages.

A conventional benchtop shaker may be too tall or bulky to fit inside a standard CO2 incubator while still leaving adequate space for culture vessels.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus minimizes the space occupied by the shaker mechanism itself, preserving more of the chamber for cultures.

Vessel & Platform Flexibility

Thermo offered an extensive range of accessories for the MaxQ platform, allowing the shaker to accommodate various flasks and laboratory vessels.

The appropriate configuration depends on culture vessel size, desired throughput, incubator dimensions, and experimental requirements.

Before purchasing a refurbished MaxQ 2000 Plus for a specific application, customers should confirm the platform, clamps, racks, or accessories included with the available unit.

American Instrument Exchange can provide photographs and configuration details for the specific equipment being purchased.

MaxQ 2000 Plus vs. Standard MaxQ 2000

The MaxQ 2000 Plus should not be confused with the standard MaxQ 2000 orbital shaker.

Both provide compact orbital shaking, but the Plus model is specifically designed for demanding CO2 incubator environments.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus incorporates CO2-resistant mechanical components, high-humidity tolerance, an external controller, stainless-steel construction, and low heat dissipation.

For ordinary benchtop shaking, a standard MaxQ 2000 may be sufficient.

For prolonged operation inside a humidified CO2 incubator, the MaxQ 2000 Plus is the more appropriate configuration.

MaxQ 2000 Plus vs. New Brunswick S41i

The MaxQ 2000 Plus and Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i can both support shaking in a CO2-controlled environment, but they accomplish this in very different ways.

The S41i is a complete integrated CO2 incubator shaker. It provides its own chamber, temperature control, CO2 regulation, humidity environment, and orbital drive.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus is only the shaker. It relies on a separate CO2 incubator to provide the environmental conditions.

The S41i provides greater integrated capacity and purpose-built environmental control, while the MaxQ 2000 Plus can be a more compact and economical choice for laboratories that already have suitable CO2 incubation capacity.

MaxQ 2000 Plus vs. MaxQ 3000

The MaxQ 3000 is a much larger open-air shaker designed around a high-capacity platform.

It is particularly useful for bacterial and yeast culture, protein expression, and other applications requiring substantial vessel capacity.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus is much smaller and has a lower load capacity, but it provides something the conventional MaxQ 3000 does not: specific engineering for operation in high-CO2, high-humidity environments.

The right choice therefore depends less on maximum platform capacity and more on where the shaker needs to operate.

MaxQ 2000 Plus vs. MaxQ 6000

The MaxQ 6000 is an enclosed incubated orbital shaker with its own heating system.

It is particularly useful for bacterial culture, yeast culture, protein expression, fermentation research, and other applications requiring temperature-controlled shaking.

The MaxQ 2000 Plus does not provide its own heating or cooling.

Instead, it can be installed inside an existing CO2 incubator, allowing that incubator to provide temperature, humidity, and CO2 control.

For mammalian cell culture requiring elevated CO2, this difference is significant.

A Cost-Effective Path to CO2 Shaking

Dedicated CO2 incubator shakers can represent a substantial capital investment.

For laboratories that already own suitable CO2 incubators, adding a MaxQ 2000 Plus can provide an alternative path to suspension-culture capability.

This can be particularly useful for startup biotechnology companies, academic laboratories, or research groups beginning a new suspension culture program.

Instead of immediately purchasing a large dedicated incubator shaker, a laboratory can use existing incubation infrastructure while adding only the orbital-shaking component.

Whether this approach provides adequate capacity depends on the laboratory's vessel size, culture volume, incubator dimensions, and expected throughput.

Refurbishment & Testing by American Instrument Exchange

Orbital shaker performance depends on stable platform motion, accurate speed control, reliable timer operation, functioning controls, and sound mechanical and electrical components.

American Instrument Exchange tests used and refurbished equipment before shipment to confirm proper operation and performance according to applicable manufacturer specifications.

For a MaxQ 2000 Plus, evaluation focuses on core functions including orbital drive operation, speed control, timer operation, external controller response, display function, mechanical condition, and general electrical performance.

The equipment is also thoroughly cleaned and prepared for laboratory use. Customers with specific testing requirements can discuss those requirements with American Instrument Exchange before shipment.

Refurbished Thermo MaxQ 2000 Plus from American Instrument Exchange

Purchasing a refurbished Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus can provide a cost-effective way to add CO2-resistant orbital shaking capability to an existing laboratory.

For biotechnology startups, cell culture laboratories, academic research groups, and established life science facilities, refurbished equipment can preserve capital while providing access to specialized instrumentation that may otherwise require a substantial investment.

American Instrument Exchange supplies used and refurbished orbital shakers, CO2 incubators, incubated shakers, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, laboratory refrigerators, freezers, ultra-low freezers, cryogenic storage systems, and other equipment used throughout cell culture and biotechnology laboratories.

This MaxQ 2000 Plus includes a 90-day warranty from American Instrument Exchange.

Shipping & Installation

The compact MaxQ 2000 Plus shaker body measures approximately 14.2"W × 11.8"D × 3.8"H.

Before installing the shaker inside a CO2 incubator, laboratories should verify internal chamber dimensions, available platform and vessel clearance, electrical access, load capacity, and compatibility with the incubator's operating environment.

The external controller should remain outside the incubator chamber.

The shaker accepts 100–240V, 50/60 Hz electrical input, making it adaptable to a broad range of laboratory electrical environments.

The shaker should not obstruct incubator airflow, sensors, drains, humidity systems, or other components required for proper environmental control.

Related Laboratory Equipment

Laboratories using the Thermo MaxQ 2000 Plus frequently require complementary equipment including CO2 incubators, biosafety cabinets for appropriate aseptic cell culture procedures, centrifuges for cell harvesting, laboratory refrigerators for media and reagent storage, -20°C freezers, ultra-low temperature freezers, cryogenic storage systems, and larger incubator shakers for scale-up.

American Instrument Exchange supplies used, refurbished, and new laboratory equipment for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, cell and gene therapy, academic research, molecular biology, and other life science laboratories.

Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Thermo Scientific MaxQ 2000 Plus?

The MaxQ 2000 Plus is a compact CO2-resistant orbital shaker designed for operation inside compatible CO2 incubators and other high-humidity controlled environments.

What is the catalog number?

The AIE unit is catalog number 88881101.

Is the MaxQ 2000 Plus a CO2 incubator?

No. It does not generate or control CO2. It is an orbital shaker designed to operate inside a separate CO2 incubator.

Why is it called CO2 resistant?

Its mechanical components and construction are designed to tolerate environments containing up to 20% CO2 and 95% relative humidity.

What is the speed range?

The MaxQ 2000 Plus operates from 30 to 300 rpm.

How accurate is the speed control?

Thermo specifies speed-control accuracy of ±1 rpm.

What is the orbit?

The shaker uses a 19 mm / 0.75-inch orbit.

What is the maximum load?

The maximum load capacity is approximately 13 lb / 6 kg.

Can the MaxQ 2000 Plus be used for mammalian cell culture?

Yes. It is particularly useful for appropriate mammalian suspension cultures requiring orbital agitation inside a controlled CO2 environment.

Can it be used for suspension cell culture?

Yes. Adding orbital agitation to a CO2 incubator can support many suspension culture workflows when appropriate vessels and protocols are used.

Can it be used for protein expression?

Yes. It can support appropriate mammalian and microbial protein-expression workflows requiring orbital shaking.

Can it be used for bacterial culture?

Yes. Thermo identifies bacterial suspensions among the applications for the MaxQ 2000 Plus. The shaker can also operate outside a CO2 incubator when elevated CO2 is not required.

Does the MaxQ 2000 Plus control temperature?

No. The shaker itself does not heat or cool. Temperature is controlled by the surrounding incubator, chamber, or room.

What temperature environment can the shaker tolerate?

Thermo specifies operation from approximately 4°C to 60°C.

What humidity can it tolerate?

The unit is specified for environments from approximately 20% to 95% relative humidity.

How much CO2 can it tolerate?

Thermo specifies operation in environments containing up to 20% CO2.

Does the shaker generate much heat inside the incubator?

The MaxQ 2000 Plus was designed for low heat dissipation to minimize its effect on the surrounding controlled chamber.

Why is the control box outside the incubator?

The external controller allows users to adjust speed and time without opening the incubator door and keeps the electronic control interface outside the high-humidity, CO2-rich chamber.

What does the control box display?

The LED display provides speed and time information.

Does the MaxQ 2000 Plus use a drive belt?

No. It uses magnetic drive technology, eliminating conventional shaker drive belts.

Why is a magnetic drive useful?

Eliminating belts removes a common mechanical wear component and can reduce routine maintenance requirements.

Does the MaxQ 2000 Plus have a timer?

Yes. The timer can be set from zero to 99 hours and 59 minutes.

Can it operate continuously?

Yes. Continuous shaking is available for extended experiments.

How large is the shaker?

The shaker mechanism measures approximately 14.2"W × 11.8"D × 3.8"H.

Will it fit inside any CO2 incubator?

Not necessarily. Internal chamber dimensions, door clearance, electrical access, vessel height, airflow, and available space should all be checked before installation.

Is the MaxQ 2000 Plus better than putting a standard shaker inside an incubator?

For prolonged CO2 incubator use, it offers important advantages because it is specifically designed for high CO2 and humidity, has low heat dissipation, and uses an external controller.

What is the difference between the MaxQ 2000 and MaxQ 2000 Plus?

The Plus configuration is specifically engineered for operation in CO2-rich, high-humidity environments and incorporates CO2-resistant construction and an external control system.

What is the difference between the MaxQ 2000 Plus and a dedicated CO2 incubator shaker?

The MaxQ 2000 Plus provides orbital agitation only and relies on a separate incubator for environmental control. A dedicated CO2 incubator shaker integrates both functions into one system.

Is this Thermo MaxQ 2000 Plus available refurbished?

Yes. American Instrument Exchange offers this MaxQ 2000 Plus used and refurbished.

What warranty is included?

The current AIE listing includes a 90-day warranty.

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